Garter fabric.



P. A. FREEMAN. GAETER FABRIC.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15, 1909.

1,082,264, Patented De0.23,1913.

INVEN TOR fiamlifiaemwa,

BY dm M A TTURNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK A. FREEMAN, OF OVERBROOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

GARTER FABRIC.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK A. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Overbrook, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Garter Fabric, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in garter fabric especially adapted for use in mens garters and suspenders. It has been found that elasticity as a characteristic of this band is unessential, and in many instances is a distinct disadvantage. One of the reasons for this, taking for example the garter, is that the garter as worn by men does not surround the leg in a substantially circular band, but hangs in the form of a loop and cooperates with the yielding fleshy part of the calf of the leg, for which reason there is sufiicient resilient yielding of the member encircled, to eliminate any necessity for elasticity of the band. Where the band comes in direct contact with the leg, it has been found that the usual elastic band, containing a rubber warp, has two distinct objections, one that it binds and is uncomfortable to the wearer, and the other is that the moisture from the skin causes the rubber in the fabric to deteriorate very quickly. This has also been found to be an objection in the use of leather in garters worn by men in hot weather. The moisture injuriously affects the leather. I have therefore found that a band formed of a non-elastic textile or woven fabric forms a leg band for mens garters, which is entirely free from any of the objections above named. It maintains its shape and form, it is comfortable when worn next to the skin, it does not draw or bind, and it is not injuriously affected by the moisture imparted thereto when being worn in hot weather.

As a preferred form of garter band, I show a woven fabric band in the accompanying drawings, which is composed of layers, made either by weaving in tubular form and then flattening out, or else in separate strips secured together in any suitable way. These layers have peculiar characteristics respectively, which will be described in detai Referring to the drawings :F igure 1 is a perspective view of a garter employing my Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 15, 1909.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

Serial No. 472,409.

improved fabric. Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts broken away to show the different layers of the band. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fastening device.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The band 5, which is adapted to surround the leg, as will be seen, is preferably woven in tubular form, having an inner or under layer 6 of composite formation of substantially non-elastic textile fabric. The special characteristic of the texture of the inner layer 6 is shown in Fig. 2, the part 16 being of a usual cross weave to present an ordinary wearing surface, while the part 17 is made up of partially floated strands, running longitudinally, to give stability to the band and to eliminate as far as possible, any tendency of the fabric to stretch longitudinally, and also to contribute in giving a body to the band. The longitudinally extending strands are preferably caught at intervals to the under cross weave portion. The outer or upper layer 7, has an open weave portion along its longitudinal middle extension. The edges of the inner and outer band are preferably woven together to form a selvage as at 8. The peculiar characteristic of such a fabric is that its several ele ments, or layers are capable of relative movement with respect to each other, so that said elements may automatically adjust themselves to different inclinations of extension without distortion or wrinkle.

What I claim is 1. A rubberless woven fabric for mens garters comprising a plurality of loosely woven layers partially detached from each other to permit of relative movement therebetween, one layer having a series of floated strands and another layer having a longitudinally extending open weave portion.

2. A rubberless woven fabric for mens garters, comprising a plurality of loosely woven layers partially detached from each other, the under layer having a layer of longitudinally extending floated strands and the upper layer having a longitudinally extending open weave portion.

FRANK A. FREEMAN.

Witnesses:

MAE HOFMANN, J NO. P. CnoAsDALn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

